Evaluation of PhD Students’ and Endodontists’ Treatment Approaches during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Questionnaire-Based Survey

Abstract

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to evaluate endodontists’ treatment approaches during the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Materials and Methods Web-based 16-question survey was sent to members of the Turkish Endodontic Society via social media and email between May 5 to 25, 2020, to obtain information about the members’ demographic characteristics and treatment approaches of seven cases considering COVID-19. The cases represented different endodontic diseases such as symptomatic apical periodontitis, chronic apical periodontitis, acute apical abscess, asymptomatic and symptomatic cases required retreatment, third molar tooth with endodontic symptoms, and symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. Statistical Analysis Statistical analysis was performed using a Chi-square test. The statistical significance was set at α = 0.05. Results Of the 203 respondents, 65.5% were females and 34.5% were males, 62.6% were endodontists and 37.4% were PhD students, 68% worked at a university, 21.2% worked at private clinics, and 10.8% worked at public clinics. Frequency of going to work was mostly once a week (31%). Most commonly performed treatments were “acute apical abscess (32.2%)” and “symptomatic irreversible pulpitis (30.8%).” The respondents most frequently preferred “to prescribe antibiotics and/or painkillers and postpone the treatment” in cases 1 and 6, “to follow-up” in cases 2 and 5, “to extract the tooth” in case 4, and “to start endodontic treatment but postpone the treatment by placing antibacterial medicament into the root canals” in cases 3 and 7 (p < 0.05). Conclusion During a pandemic, the general treatment approach for endodontic emergencies should be to eliminate acute symptoms and minimize the risk of transmission.